Chapter 3 – Good VS Evil
McDuck's limo speeds down the street, over the bridge, and in through the garage of the Money bin. Launchpad fails to slow down to stop in time before the vehicle smashes up against a pillar.
"Oops, sorry, Mr. McDee." The driver apologizes. "I keep doing that."
"It's alright, Launchpad," Scrooge assures him as he steps out of the limo. "I have a lot on my mind right now, and dinnae have time to deal with this mess."
He dusts himself off before looking back at his dimwitted employee. The stingy billionaire suddenly feels generous and pulls out a dollar bill from his pocket and hands it to Launchpad.
"Why don't you go get yourself a coffee or something? I'll be a few hours."
"Gee, thanks. A whole dollar – and it's not even payday." Launchpad replies, excited to see the money handed to him.
"Yes, well, don't get used to it." Scrooge shrugs.
The elder walks to the elevator and pushes the 'up' button with his cane. Scrooge glances back as Launchpad backs the car out from under the rubble and speeds off with the front grille dragging beneath the vehicle.
Scrooge shakes his head in disbelief before turning his attention back to the elevator when he hears the ding. The door slides open, and he walks in.
When the door slides open again, Scrooge is on the eleventh floor, where his office is. So far, no one else is present as he steps off the platform. At first, he is concerned but figures that some of the employees are on a coffee break or taking care of business in one of the other departments.
Scrooge continues to walk up to his desk. He sits down in his chair, he begins to filter through some of the folders placed there by one of his secretaries. After a few minutes of focusing on the papers, Scrooge starts to grow more suspicious with how quiet his office is at this hour. He suddenly feels a dark force in the room.
It is now that the billionaire elder is aware that before Bradford officially left, he ultimately shut down the security system, which is now leaving the bin vulnerable to magical attacks. Scrooge focused on ways to beat Bradford and F.O.W.L. that he never had the time to reinstall the proper security systems.
In a panic, Scrooge gets up from his seat, grabs his cane, and looks around. He has an idea of whose energy he senses; therefore, the fearless adventurer is high alert.
"Hello, Scroogie," Magica's voice coos from the shadows.
"Magica De Spell," Scrooge growls.
He turns to face the evil sorceress as she creeps into the light.
"I was wondering when you would crawl back out from the shadows again."
"You know me, Scroogie, I like to make an entrance." Magica chuckles wickedly.
Not wasting another minute, Magica begins by throwing the first strike with a purple streak emanating from the crystal on her staff. Scrooge easily evades the blast by leaping to one side then tucking and rolling out of the way. Magica attacks again, which Scrooge avoids without effort.
"Is that the best you got?" He taunts her.
"I'm just getting started." The witch crows.
Magica throws magical fire balls, and Scrooge finds himself needing to duck inside his vault to evade her relentless attacks. He doesn't even have time to realize that the vault door is already unlocked and slightly opened.
The witch grins once he ducks behind the heavy door.
"You know, Scroogie," Magica purrs.
She fires another blast as Scrooge pulls the door shut.
"You are making this all too easy for me." She lets out a chuckle.
She uses her magic to rip the heavy door off its hinges for dramatic emphasis and tosses it off to one side. It crashes through three rooms before impaling itself into the final wall.
Scrooge stands shocked that the vault door is gone. He snaps his attention back to his attacker before bolting for the edge of the ramp. Leaping, Scrooge dives into his hard cold cash.
"Do you honestly believe you can hide from me down there, Scroogie?" Magica says mockingly.
The evil sorceress is fully aware of Scrooge's tricks and knows he probably has something up his sleeve. Raising her staff, Magica creates a purple orb around her and lowers herself cautiously.
"Come out, come out, where ever you are." She sings.
The moment her feet touches the cash, the bubble disappears.
She starts looking around the mountains of gold coins and gems for any signs of her target. Though the sorceress can't see him, she can hear the money jingling beneath her. With a huff, Magica stomps her foot down.
"Oh, come on," She grumbles. "I can hear you swimming around down there. Just get back up here and fight."
Scrooge leaps out from under his ocean of treasure to seize a sneak attack from behind.
"You mean like this?" He growls, swinging his cane down on her.
Magica quickly makes a force shield over her head before the old duck could hit her.
"Oooh, so close." She teases.
The orb disappears, and the two rivals battle. Her staff clashes with his cane, over and over. Each duck strives to overpower the other and become the victor.
"Give it up, Magica. You won't win." Scrooge promises.
"I beg to differ." The sorceress growls. "You have no idea what surprises I have in store."
"I've beaten you many times before. What do you think this is any different?" McDuck asks.
"Only time will tell, Scroogie." Magica chuckles with a subtle hint.
Scrooge oversees his opponent for any signs of weakness, and that is when he notices her let out a tired breath.
"What's the matter," Scrooge taunts. "Getting tired already."
The sorceress is about to take the defense of that comment but stops herself. She quickly gains composure and stands straight.
"Not this time Scroogie." Magica shakes her index figure from side to side. "I won't let you trigger me into making a mistake, especially when I am so close. This time I will have my revenge!"
With two powerful swings of her staff, Magica creates two glowing spheres. The purple orbs fly fast, grabbing both of Scrooge's wrists. He flies back a few feet, and the balls turn into cuffs, lifting him in the air by invisible chains. Scrooge is now unable to move his arms or run, for that matter.
The spell has taken Scrooge by surprise, so much so he drops his cane. It lands just under his dangling webbed feet. The rich duck struggles to break free and quickly finds it futile. His only hope is that his family could come to his rescue in time.
At last, even he finds that to be unrealistic since his family is down at the docks. By now, they are waving his nephew, girlfriend, and clone twins on their adventures at sea. All Scrooge can do now is see whatever Magica has planned and hopes she does it quickly.
Magica saunters up to the trapped duck.
"I just love it when you hang around." She chuckles.
"You will not win, you witch." Scrooge threatens. "You may have beaten me today, but my family will step up to take you down in my place."
"Oh, I don't know. Your family is dealing their own problems to deal with right now." Magica says as a matter of fact.
"What do you mean?" Scrooge asks.
He is suddenly worried about what could be happening to his family. It feels like something is lodging up in his throat. Scrooge tries to swallow whatever it is back down, but it won't move.
Magica leans forward and brings her face up close to his until their cheeks touch.
"Let's just say, the Beagle Boys are making sure your family's little boat ride sinks before it leaves the harbor." She whispers in his ear.
Hearing that his family is in danger causes one more attempt to fight regardless of the restraints holding his arms up. Scrooge lets out a frustrated growl, realizing his struggle is pointless.
"Are you quite finished?" Magica asks with a snicker.
Scrooge doesn't respond, which is a sign for Magica to achieve her prize. The wicked sorceress reaches over and slips her hand under Scrooge's collar. Once she has hold of the item she seeks, she yanks it out with a cackle.
"Finally, your No. #1 Dime is mine!" Magica cries out in triumphant.
"No," Scrooge gasps.
He struggles to get out of his magical bonds one more time while Magica watches him with amusement.
"Now that I have what I came for, it is now time for the second half of my plan." She coos.
"What, you're going to trap me in the dime again?" Scrooge asks in a tired tone.
"No, I'm not going to trap you in the dime again." The witch gibes at his words in a mocking tone.
"That'd be boring." She continues. "No, I have something more delicious in mind."
She raises her hand, and a beam of light emits from her palm. It stretches out into a straight staff, and one end curves into a sharp weapon.
The shape grows into a recognizable object to Scrooge. He lets out a loud gasp as his eyes widen with surprise.
"Is that…" he trails off.
"Cronos's Scythe?" Magica continues for him. "Why, yes, it is. If you are aware of its existence, then you know of the power it holds."
Using both of her hands, she swipes the Scythe in a downward motion. Magically, the sharp end slices an opening through the air, and a purple-blue light emerges.
"And now, Scroogie, time for you to leave." The witch emphasizes the pun.
She raises her hand to Scrooge, and from the glow of her magic, the chainless cuffs disappear. The old duck lands down on his hands and knees. Quickly regaining his composure, Scrooge grabs his cane before pushing himself back up in a standing position.
"Not a chance," he growls. "You will have to force me through that portal."
"Or perhaps you will be pushed in, McDuck!" A voice from behind shouts. "I, Flintheart Glomgold, will be the one to help you through that portal."
Scrooge barely has a chance to turn his head to see the fat stubby duck leaping out from behind a mound of money. Not even able to get a chance to react as the fake Scottish billionaire pushes him into the spinning light. Scrooge lets out one last desperate cry before disappearing in a flash.
Both Magica and Glomgold stand victorious, cackling, as they watch the portal shrink and disappear.
"See you in the future, Scroogie." Magica chuckles, holding up the dime, and watches it glisten with the last remaining light of the portal.